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Over the past seven months, since September 2015, volunteers of the Elite Special Task Force Greece (EP.OM.E.A) have provided their assistance in this difficult situation that both Greece and the refugees are facing.

Initially, upon assistance request, EP.OM.E.A. worked at Skala Sykamias on the island of Lesvos, with the support of the region of Thessaloniki, and operated in emergency units as set up by Doctor Andreas Iliadis (a paediatrician from Patra) with the assistance of Georgios Roumeliotis (President of EP.OM.E.A. Egaleo), on a daily basis for one month. The EP.OM.E.A. team that reached Lesvos island consisted of fifteen (15) volunteers (lifeguards, medical personnel and first aiders) who were operating on a daily basis, using a 12-meter inflatable all-weather boat and ATVs on land, as long as this could be financially possible.

Following this humanitarian activity of EP.OM.E.A., thanks to the cooperation and assistance of WAHA International and its General Secretary Dr. Sinan Khaddaj, the rescue team was registered within the strategic operation plan of the National Health Operations Centre (EKEPY) of the Ministry of Health. Thus, the rescue team started offering medical services in the refugee camps thanks to its doctors, rescuers and nurses on the Greek Islands of Lesvos and Kos, in Eidomeni, in the Baseball Stadium and in the Arrivals section of the Elliniko Camp and Elaionas Camp, where medical clinics have been set up, with sixteen (16) EP.OM.E.A. volunteers, on a daily basis. Therefore, EP.OM.E.A. is currently providing medical services at theses clinics for 8 to 10 hours daily, thanks to this cooperation with WAHA, the headquarters of which lie in Paris. EP.OM.E.A. thanks Dr. Sinan Khaddaj who has facilitated this cooperation.

For the second consecutive time, the Greek EURO SAR member, the Elite Special Task Force of Greece (EP.OM.E.A.) – branches of Thessaloniki, Aigaleo, Sintiki, Boeotia, Velo (Corinth) and Larissa – has collected various food items with the assistance of other Greek NGOs (such as KIPODA) and the general public. The Greek team took responsibility of the financial necessities to transfer the donated loads to Serbia. The donations were distributed among those in need, between Serbia, with the assistance of the Serbian Rescue Team, and Bosnia.

The Greek team would like to show its appreciation to the Serbian Rescue Team president, Mr Danilo Budimir, and to Mr John Koudouna, representative of GPA in Greece, for their cooperation. Above all, sincere thanks goes to all the EP.OM.E.A. volunteers who have for the second time showed such effort to assist those in need in the neighbouring countries. It is with each individual’s efforts that this mission was made possible.

Another similar mission will be taking place in 15 days’ time and the collected items will be sent to provide humanitarian assistance to a part of the Bulgarian community.

This mission was accomplished under the auspices of EURO SAR – The European Association of Civil Protection Volunteer Teams.